Best Time to Fly LATAM Airlines to Chile for Budget Travelers?

1. Purchasing Easter Island tickets directly from the official website in Spanish can save you more than 50% compared to other platforms.

2. Travelers flying from Santiago to Puerto Natales are often seen with large hiking backpacks, and it appears these are not typically checked at the boarding gate.

3. You can easily check in online and select your seats through the airline’s app, eliminating the need for a printed ticket. Major airports also provide self-service kiosks where printing your boarding pass is a breeze.

4. For backpacks that fall into a gray area regarding size, it’s generally not advisable to pay for checked baggage. In my experience, there have been instances where my bag was checked for free, even when I hadn’t purchased a checked baggage ticket. Another time, at the boarding gate, they informed me there was no space for my luggage, so they checked it without any additional charge. Overall, Chilean domestic flights tend to be quite lenient about carry-on sizes.

Other points to note about flying in Chile:
5. At Calama airport, I was stopped due to a tripod, which exceeded the length limit and had to be checked. This is an airport-specific rule rather than an airline policy.

6. For flights to Easter Island, security checks only begin after 5 AM. I once arrived in the middle of the night and was unable to enter the terminal, forcing me to sleep in the chilly hall outside. It would have been much more comfortable to wait inside.

7. One of the key benefits of checking in online via the app is the convenience it offers for domestic transfers. You can swiftly move between flights without needing to exit and re-enter the check-in process, making the entire transfer experience quick and seamless, often within just half an hour.

8. On the return flight from Puerto Natales to Santiago, sitting on the right side of the plane provides breathtaking views of snow-capped mountains 🏔, making the journey even more memorable.

9. Uber is officially banned at the airport, but I’ve never had issues using it to get to the airport. If the car is marked as a taxi, there’s no problem. If it’s a private car, the driver might ask you to sit in the front (if you’re alone) and instruct you to say you’re friends if questioned by the police, though I’ve never encountered a check.

10. The Easter Island airport is quite small, and they only allow passengers through security and into the terminal at specific times. Arriving too early can be uncomfortable due to the heat, lack of seating, and poor internet connectivity.